This month, our team at Chemistry Matters Inc. were able to share some of our knowledge through a peer reviewed publication that was published in a scientific journal called Forensics International. The paper describes the use of comprehensive two-dimensional chromatography (GCxGC) for fire debris...

Gas chromatography (GC) is an analytical technique that characterizes a chemical mixture by separation and identification of the chemical components. At Chemistry Matters, data generated from GC is used in arson investigations, biomonitoring, and environmental forensic investigations. Developing a concise...

What happens when 14,000 people gather in one place, most of which are chemists? PITTCON happens. I am sure the city of Philadelphia cringed when they heard that that many nerds were gathering in one place and if they did not realize it before, they certainly do now. With jokes about Heisenberg or that alcohol is...

Next week, I will be traveling to Philadelphia for the PITTCON Conference. I will be meeting another Chemistry Matters colleague, Michelle Misselwitz there as well. It is not so far to travel for Michelle as she is a resident of Pennsylvania but I will be spending some ever important focus time on a couple of plane...

It is not the Belgium beer or chocolate that is taking us to Europe in January. Chemistry Matters Inc. (CMI) scientists are heading off to Belgium in January for the 10th Annual Multidimensional Chromatography Workshop being hosted by the University of Liège. Dr. Kates and I will both be presenting on the use of...

During my seminars on arson and legal sampling over the years, one fundamental question is asked a lot regarding the collection of samples for ignitable liquid residue (ILR) analysis for a potential arson investigation. That question is, "Do my samples really need ice for storage and transport to the laboratory?"